Method of making cold-rolled articles



E, SLICK METHOD OF MAKING COLD RObLED ARTICLES Sept. 18, 1928.

Filed April 21. 1922 6:4; INVENT.OR. 5. m

Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

[UNITED STATES PATENT OF C EDWIN n. SLICK, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF MAKING COLD-ROLLED ARTICLES.

Application filed April 21, 1922. Serial No. 555,867.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of one form of machine-adaptedfor carrying out my process; and

Figure 2 is a plan view of the rollers and cage therefor.

My invention relates to the class of coldrolling and is designed toprovide a new method and new article of manufacture in this class ofwork. Hereto-fore, cold rolling had been. carried out by ordinary rolls,through which the work, such as shafting strips, etc, is passed, whilecold,to impart the desired dense smooth cold-rolled surface.

My invention is designed to widen the field for cold rolling and toprovide articles, such for example, as tapered disks for wheel bodies,having the highly desirable cold rolled surface either throughout thesurface or in annular or circular zones thereof, the cold rolling beingcarried out in such circular or annular Zones. v

In carrying out my process, I preferably employ a work or blank supporton which the blank is laid, and employ a thrust member which is forcedtoward the blank during the operation and employ between the members asystem of rolling elements which move in substantially annular orcircular paths over the blank. I thus impart a highly. desirablecold-rolled finish to the surface portion of the blank, and if desired,to both surfaces at the same time by employing rolle-rson the work.-snpporting member, as well as between the blank and the thrust member,as illustrated in Figure 4 of my Patent No. 1,423,268, of July 18,1922.I

I will now describe one machine for carrying out my invention, thepreferred type of machine being shown in my patent referred to. Thispatent shows different types of machines, of which I have selected thefirst type as an example.

In the drawings, the blank, which may be aidisc or blank of any desiredshape cut from a plate or, sheet, may be carried on a work support 2. Inthetype of operation chosen for this example, this blank is spread outand tapered from the central portion toward the edge portion, preferablyin the samegeneral type of machine, and while the blank is heated in theordinary manner. If the blank is formed in this manner, it is thereafterrolled in the samemachine while cold to give the cold-rolled finish. Inthe type shown, the work support is slightly dished and the blank iscold rolled by a plurality of rollers 3, pressed against the blank bythrust plate 4, which is rotated relatively to the work support 2. Therollers 3 which are preferably solid and imperforate are shown asloosely mountedina cage, indicated generally by numeral This cageisshown as comprising two semicircular blocks 6, the inner edges of whichare concave to fit around and guide the rollers 3. A band 7 fits around.the two blocks (S'and holds them together. The thrust plate 4 is mountedon arotating head 8, and

is preferably made of hardened steel to with cage 5 released. Then, ifit is desired to take loosening the nuts 18.

A centering stud 15 centers the thrust plate 4 on the head 8 and a pin16 holds the-thrust plate and head againstrelative rotation. The cage 5is heldso that it can treely rotate on its supporting ring "10.Sufficientclearance is provided between the cage 5 and the work so thatthe cage may turn freely relative thereto.

oil the thrust plate 4, it can be taken off by The work-supporting plate2 is made of hardened steel or cast chilled iron and is supported on ahead 17; It is centered on the head by means of a hollow stud 18 and ispre vented from rotating relatively to the'liead 17 by means of a pin19. A spring-pressed stud 20 projects tl'iro-ugh the work support 2 andinto the hole drilled inthe center of the disk for the purpose ofcentering the disk on the work support. The blank may be solid,

in which case the centering stud will not be needed. 1 f

During the cold-rolling operation, the two heads 8 and 17 are forcedagainsteach other and relatively rotated so that the rollers '3 rollaround in circular or annular'paths over the plate. The rollers arefrictionally driven by contact with the thrust plate and the blank whichrotate relatively to each other. shown in the drawings, the rollers ateach side of the axisof rotation are preferably so spaced that therollers at one sidewill not track with the rollers on the other side.This causes the rollers to cover all portionsxof the annular zone actedupon andgive a. smoother and better finish.

of rollers on opposite sides of the center are separated b a spacer 26,formed on the blocks 6 of the rol er-supporting cage. This spacer block26 is a little to one side of the axis. of rotation. As shown in thedrawings, there are nine rollers at the left of the axis of rotation andeight at the right. This arrangement insures that the radius from theaxis of rotation to the point of separation between two rollers atoneside of the center is equal to the radius from the axis of rotation tothe middle of a roller on the opposite side.

The end faces of the rollers 3 are preferably slightly bulged at thecenter, this bulgmg being somewhat exaggerated in the drawings for thepurpose of illustration.

The rollers therefore contact with each other only in their centralportions, so that frictionbetween them is reduced. Each roller ispermitted to assume its own speed, the speed of the rollers, of course,differing among themselves. i Y

It is found to be advantageous in work of this character to employrollers of small diameter, because the small diameter roller has asmaller surface of rolling contact withthe work. Therefore, the thrustof the rollers against the work'is concentrated in a smaller area andthe blank rolled out more efiiciently than would be the case if largerdiameter rollers were used. Since the rollers 3 are subjected to aconsiderable thrust, it is desirable that they be made solid. The use ofthe cage 6 permits small solid rolls to be used. The cage holds therollersin align, ment and prevents'any roller from moving sidewise outof its end to end alignment with the other rollers. WVith the cage it isunnecessary to bore the rolls to receive any shaft for holding them inalignment or supporting them, thus permitting the rolls to be inadesolid and of a maximum strength.

The head 8 is mounted in the cross pediment of the machine so asvtorotate. As shown in the drawings, the head 8 is provided with a verticalshaft 30, extending through a hushed bearing 31, while a work plate 32forms a vertical thrust bearing for theehea'd 8. The bearings arelubricated through the oil groove Splined to the head of the shaft 30 isa gear 34, which is driven by apinion 35. The pinion 35 is carried on ashaft 36, which, at its lower end, has a bevel gear 37, driven by abevel gear 38 on a shaft 39, which is driven' through the The head 17,which carries the work support 2, is vertically movable and is forced byhydraulic pressure against the rollers 3. The head 17 has a plunger 45,which enters a hydraulic cylinder 46, supplied with fluid under pressurethrough a pipe 47. An adjustable collar 48 on plunger 45 limits its"upward movement. A' pin 51 extends from As shown in the drawings, thetwo series thehead 17 into a stationary part of the machine to preventthe head 17 from rotating.

Incarrying out my improved method with this machine, the blank whilecold lies on the Work support 2, and fluid is admitted under pressure tothe hydraulic cylinder so as to force the work support and the blankagainst the'rollers. The. head 8 with the thrust plate 4 is rotated asthe relative end changed and rollers employed to carry the I blank, inwhich case, the blank will be coldrolled on both faces at the same time.

It is obvious that the blank may be hot.- rolled to the desired shape inthis machine, before it is cold-rolled, or the blank may be given itsshape in any desired way previous to th s coldrolling operation. Thetype of machine employed may be widelyvaried, and many other changes maybe made without departing from my invention.

The advantages of the inventionare apparent, since a highly desirableannular or circular cold-rolled surface may be imparted to articles,such as wheel disks, circular saws,

etc.

I consider myself the first to make a cold: rolled disk of varyingthickness, whether rolled by circular or annular rolling or not. .Iclaim:

1 In the method of cold-rolling circular articles, the steps comprisingsupporting the article to be rolled and subjecting at least one sideface thereof to the substantially uniform action of independentlymovable float-r ing rollers traveling concentrically over the article. I

2 In the method of cold-rolling articles, the steps comprisingsupporting the circular one side face thereof to the; action of aplurality or series of independently movable rollers travelingCODCQIllZ-IlCflllYOVBI' thearticle with the paths of the rollers in oneseries staggered relatively the other series. A

3. In the method of cold rolling circular articles, the steps comprisingsupporting. the

article to be rolled and subjecting at least'one to the pathsof those of120 C article to be rolled and subjecting at least side face thereof tothe action of indcpendtioning rollers intermediate the article and entlymovable solid rollers travelling con supporting means, and "causing saidrollers centrically over the article. to travel concentrically over thearticle With 10 4. In the method of rolling circular artilndependentmovement. 5 cles, the steps comprising supporting an arti- In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set cle to be rolled, providing rollersupporting my hand.

means in spaced relation to the article, posi- EDWIN E. SLICK.

